Leadership in Flux

Episode 8: Michael Carrel

This episode of Leadership in Flux features Michael Carrel. Michael Carrel is EVP and Chief Technology Officer for Nationwide. In this role, he is responsible for the company's technology strategy, IT capabilities and business transformation programs. Previously, Michael served as CTO for Nationwide Financial, leading all technology solutions supporting Nationwide's Financial Services businesses. Prior to that, Michael served as CTO for Marketing and Enterprise Growth Solutions, where he led technology strategy and solutions for Marketing, Enterprise Customer Data, Enterprise Internet & Mobile, Pet Insurance, Emerging Partnerships and Innovation. Michael has been with Nationwide for 30 years serving in a variety of areas including Corporate Disaster Recovery Systems, Corporate Financial Systems, Property & Casualty Agency Solutions, Property & Casualty Claims Solutions, Office of the Enterprise CIO, Corporate Internet Solutions, Nationwide Financial Integrated Application Services, Retirement Plans and Enterprise Applications. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Bowling Green State University, Summa Cum Laude and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Dayton. He also carries a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Michael serves on the Computer Science Advisory Board of Bowling Green State University and is the Board Chair for the United Way of Delaware County. He is an active member in the Technology Executive 50 community for senior technology executives and an Innovation Advisory Council Member for Vation Ventures. In 2025, Michael was named the Ohio ORBIE Awards Large Enterprise CIO of the Year. Michael has also served on the advisory boards for the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, Insured Retirement Institute, and Sungard/Relius. See more episodes here: https://lithespeed.com/leadership_in_flux/ [https://lithespeed.com/leadership_in_flux/] Learn more about LitheSpeed: https://lithespeed.com/ [https://lithespeed.com/] Connect with Sanjiv Augustine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjivaugustine/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjivaugustine/]

Episode 7: Kathleen Walch

This episode of Leadership in Flux features Kathleen Walch. Kathleen is Director of AI Engagement and Community at Project Management Institute (PMI), where she focuses on advancing practical, responsible AI adoption across the project management profession. In this role, Kathleen works at the intersection of education, community, and real‑world practice to help professionals confidently lead AI‑enabled initiatives. Kathleen joins PMI from the Cognilytica acquisition. At Cognilytica, Kathleen co-developed the Cognitive Project Management for AI (CPMAI [https://www.pmi.org/certifications/ai-project-management-cpmai]) methodology that is in use by Fortune 1000 firms and government agencies worldwide to successfully run and manage their AI and advanced data projects. Adopted by dozens of multinational organizations, dozens of government agencies, and NGOs, CPMAI is quickly becoming the standard methodology for AI project management best practices. Kathleen is CPMAI+E Certified. As an experienced data-focused analyst with a background in marketing, Kathleen's expertise and experience in project management issues around organizational adoption of data led to the development of the CPMAI methodology. Kathleen is a dynamic presenter, researcher and thought leader on emerging technology best practices. She is a sought after keynoter and presenter speaking to audiences worldwide. Kathleen is also the host of the AI Today podcast [https://www.pmi.org/ai-today-podcast] and a frequent contributor to publications including CIO, Fortune, Forbes, and TechTarget SearchAI. Prior to her work at Cognilytica, Kathleen helped to grow TechBreakfast, a national technology-focused innovation demo series. Kathleen founded tech startup-up HourlyBee, an online scheduling system for home services where she quickly became an expert in grassroots marketing, networking, and employee management. Before that, Kathleen was a key part of the direct marketing operation for Harte Hanks managing large scale direct mail campaigns for clients including Bed Bath and Beyond and BuyBuyBaby. Managing big data analytics, she created efficiencies in the process saving thousands of dollars and days of processing time from each campaign. Kathleen graduated from Loyola University with a degree in Marketing. See more episodes here: https://lithespeed.com/leadership_in_flux/

Episode 6: Gene Bounds

This Leadership in Flux episode features Gene Bounds. Eugene Bounds is a globally recognized Management Consultant with more than three decades of Information Technology and Program Execution experience. He established Bounds Associates in 2012 to provide strategy and execution consulting services to Government agencies and has earned successful prime contractor engagements with the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Treasury, and Commerce. Mr. Bounds was formerly a senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton. He is also a retired U.S. Air Force officer and former Sector Director at Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute. Mr. Bounds has extensive board governance experience--elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Project Management Institute from 2007 to 2012 and was Board Chairman in 2010. He was also elected to serve on the Board of Directors for Scrum Alliance and served as Board Chairman in 2017. In 2019, Mr. Bounds was appointed to the Board of Governors for Saint Stephens and Saint Agnes School. Eugene is a recipient of the Federal Computer Week "Federal 100" Award, which recognizes executives having the greatest impact on the US government information systems community. He was also awarded a Project Management Institute Fellowship, presented to fewer than 70 project management professionals from around the world. Mr. Bounds holds a M.S. degree in Information Systems from the University of Southern California and a B.B.A. in Information Systems from Texas Tech University. He is also a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College.

Episode 5: Hollie Ringer

This episode features Hollie Ringer. Hollie is the Vice President, Enterprise Digital Product Management Leader for Nationwide, leading a team of product professionals responsible for advancing the digital experience for members and partners across Nationwide's core businesses, with accountability for key digital channels including mobile, web, preference and profile management, digital messaging, and conversational voice and chat. Hollie and her team provide strategic digital consultation and thought leadership to partners across the organization. Having been with Nationwide for 30 years, Hollie has led a variety of teams and initiatives, including roles as Associate Vice President of Enterprise Digital Strategy and Planning, Associate Vice President of Nationwide Financial Digital Strategy and Planning, Director of Life and Annuity Operations Compliance, and Director of Retirement Plans Participant Solutions Sales. Hollie brings deep experience in financial services, compliance, sales, marketing, and digital strategy and planning, spending more than 20 years supporting the Financial Services businesses and the last several years focused on enterprise-wide digital solutions. Today, Hollie is helping enable the adoption of a product operating model across the Enterprise, providing thought leadership and enablement services such as coaching, educational content, and consultation to leaders and teams looking to evolve their ways of working. Hollie has a passion for delivering extraordinary digital experiences through empowered teams, with a consistent focus on customer outcomes and a modern product mindset. Hollie graduated with an undergraduate degree in business from Miami University, holds an MBA from Franklin University, and earned a her Juris Doctorate from Capital University Law School.

Episode 4: Amber Field

This episode features Amber Field. Amber Field is the Chief Operating Officer at Strudel AI, a Lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and author of the book, Agile Discovery & Delivery: A Survival Guide for New Software Engineers & Tech Entrepreneurs. She has been an executive leader in tech, agile proponent, and engineer for her entire career at a number of organizations including IBM, National Geographic, Oracle Utilities (formerly Opower), Capital One, and Singlewire Software. Amber frequently speaks at conferences and blogs at amberrfield.com. She lives in Madison, WI.